A fabulous tribute to the career of Sir Jackie Stewart is the main draw for classic fans at Autosport International, which opened today (10 January) and runs until Sunday (13th) at Birmingham’s NEC.
Unmissable racers on show run from Stewart's F1 debut machine – the tartan-seated 1965 BRM P261 – through to the Matra MS80 that gave him his first Drivers’ Championship in 1969. The Tyrrell 003 and 006 cars, which gave the racing legend his second and third titles in ’71 and ’73 respectively, are also present.
The display also includes (slightly) less well-known cars from the triple-World Champion’s career, such as the Lotus Elan he campaigned for Graham Warner’s Chequered Flag team, a Lotus Cortina he raced against Jim Clark, Sir John Whitmore and Jack Sears, plus an Ecurie Ecosse Cooper-Monaco.
Last but not least is the E-type Jaguar that Stewart raced in the mid-'60s for John Coombs.
The Classic Team Lotus display is another big lure for classic enthusiasts. The team’s stand includes Type 72, 25, 23 and 94T, the latter pair displayed body-less, giving a fascinating insight into their workings.
Closed-wheel racers are spearheaded by three Martini Lancia LC2s. They are joined by a flock of historic touring cars courtesy of the Historic Sports Car Club and a tribute to the 2001 World Rally Champion Richard Burns, including the 205 GTI he drove to the 1990 and 1991 Peugeot Challenge titles to earn his place on the world stage.
Meanwhile, the Coys’ sale on Saturday includes highlights such as a 1950 Allard J2 estimated at £325-375,000, a 1974 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow formerly owned by Freddie Mercury (£9-11,000) and the 1980 Ford Capri (£24-28,000) that starred in Only Fools and Horses.
The event also features a live arena where some of the latest supercars will be put through their paces, plus a stage with interviews of racing personalities including Sir Jackie Stewart, Paul di Resta plus Le Mans winners Derek Bell and Allan McNish.
For more information on the show, and to watch a live TV feed from the event, visit www.autosportinternational.com
